tesla Posts

Internet giants like Google’s Waymo, Uber, and Amazon as well as fast-growing disrupters like Tesla keep grabbing all the headlines on autonomous vehicles, commercial drones, or other advances in AI-powered industrial automation. But the authors of a new book, What To Do When Machines Do Everything? argue that we should not discount the chances that industrial incumbents such as GE or Siemens, or automotive stalwarts like BMW or Mercedes, might actually win the key battles against powerful and richly-funded tech AI companies due to their superior knowhow in critical areas.

In recent weeks Tesla has been drawing a lot of attention for its new “Autopilot” feature. A crash in Florida May of a Model S while Autopilot was engaged, added to the fact that this feature was released in beta mode, exacerbated by Tesla’s refusal to cede ground in the face of blowback from motorists and experts, are building toward a true PR nightmare. How should Elon Musk and his team respond?

Talk about an industry disruptor. With its 2013 Car of the Year Model S and an entire industry infrastructure to support it, Tesla Motors is lighting up the auto industry, putting every major manufacturer of ICE (internal combustion engine) cars on notice. Gone are the days when incumbent auto firms could get away with designing crappy-looking hybrids or EVs aimed at a small niche of committed eco-conscious drivers. Owning or driving a high-end gas-powered sports sedan makes no sense any longer, now that the Model S has turned the driving and ownership experience inside out.